Giants at mercy of minnows in FA Cup third round

Giants at mercy of minnows in FA Cup third round

By Vic Mills

JAKARTA (JP): After a frenetic program of matches over the
Christmas period, the Premier League gives way to the magic of
the FA Cup this weekend as the big clubs join the minnows in the
third round of the competition.

The two most successful clubs in FA Cup history meet in the
prize tie of the round as nine-times winner Manchester United
meets eight-times winner Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford
Sunday.

"It's a very exciting tie, it will obviously be a great game,"
said United chairman Martin Edwards.

The nearest the two sides have come to meeting in the final
was in 1962 when both reached the semifinals only to be drawn
against each other. The North London club, captained by the
legendary Danny Blanchflower, won 3-1 at Hillsborough and went on
to beat Burnley at Wembley.

Spurs won a third-round replay five years later, after drawing
2-2 at Old Trafford, but lost a sixth-round replay in 1979 as
United went on to lose 3-2 to Arsenal in one of the all-time
great finals.

The following year Spurs gained another third round draw in
Manchester and won 1-0 at White Hart Lane.

Recent Premiership form - Spurs having lost twice at Old
Trafford last year, to an Eric Cantona goal in March and then to
an Ole Solkskjaer double in September - points to a United
victory, FA Cup history, however, is littered with shocks and for
that reason alone Spurs have a chance.

The only other all-Premiership tie has Sunderland drawn away
at Arsenal. The visitors are still haunted by their last visit to
Highbury in September when they lost 2-0 and had Martin Scott and
Paul Stewart sent off.

Merseyside giant Liverpool has been installed as Cup favorite
at 5-1 and should have little difficulty in disposing of lowly
Burnley of the second division at Anfield.

There will nevertheless be some worried Premiership managers
over the weekend as several clubs have been drawn away to
ambitious teams from lower divisions.

Having knocked out Sheffield Wednesday last season, Charlton
Athletic of the first division has been drawn against another of
the Premiership big boys in the 6-1 second favorite, Newcastle
United.

Tough draw

Of the trip to London, Kevin Keegan said: "It's tough draw
because we've got to travel and because all these type of teams
are capable of turning over Premiership sides.

"We know that because we got beat at Luton a few years ago.
But whatever comes out of the hat you've got to accept. We've got
to go down there and be on our game. Hopefully we will be."

Relegation haunted Nottingham Forest has an equally difficult
task at home to Ipswich Town of the first division, itself in the
top flight two years ago. An FA Cup run would boost confidence at
the City Ground, but the visitors will certainly believe they
have a chance.

Other mouthwatering clashes include the Midlands derby between
Notts County and seven-times winner Aston Villa, and a southern
clash that sends Premiership bottom club Southampton into
neighboring Berkshire to face Reading of the first division.

Crystal Palace, in the final only six years ago, takes on Cup
record scorer Ian Rush and his new club Leeds United at Selhurst
Park, while Everton, held at Goodison Park by Stockport and Port
Vale last season, will not entertain Swindon Town with the
greatest of confidence.

The true magic of the FA Cup, however, belongs to those
amateur or non-league sides who have fought their way through
countless qualifying rounds that began in August and now have the
chance of both fame and fortune with more giant-killing exploits.

Flying the non-league colors in this third round are Stevenage
Borough which entertains Birmingham City, Woking which has a
money-spinning draw against the team of the moment Coventry City,
and Hednesford Town, which has a home tie against another club
from division two with a giant-killing pedigree, York City.